Piano string-plate mounting



Aug. l1, 1953 H, F, RUSSELL 2,648,245

PIANO STRING-PLATE MOUNTING Filed March 13, 1952 :inventor 3g rf/ Gttorneg Patented Aug. 11, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VPIAN() 'STRING-PLATE MOUNTING y Henry Forbes Russell, Quincy, Mass.

Applicatn March 13, 1952, Serial No. 276,377

1 Claim.

This invention relates toa piano string-plate, andparticularly'to thefmounting oi thestringplateand the strings, and has as one of its major 'cbjects to provide a new construction whereby the length of the string-plate in a spinet-type piano may be' substantially increased; thereby providing means to better the quality of the tone, and. 'whereby a so-called large upright piano may be successfully converted to a modern spinetetype piano.

Another object ofthis invention is to retain theriginal string-plate and strings 'in the conversion of the large upright piano to the Spinettype piano'.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new 'construction yfor the mounting of the string-plate and the strings, whereby the full 88-n'ote keyboard may be retained.

-Amother object of this invention is to provide a new construction for the string-plate and strings of a vspinet-typepiano which will substantially 'reduce the cost of such'a piano.

VFor these objects and lother objects that shall become apparent, I shall now show and describe. rst in limited form and then in full detail, the construction and combinations of `my invention and the manner in which the same vis to be made and used. Y

In the accompanying Vdrawing Fig. l is a leftside view, with the side-casing removed, of the string-'plate mounting and the strings extendi'ngbelow the vertical frame members comprising the iiooresup'prts.

Fig. 2 is afront View, with the action, desk and side-casings removed, rof the string-plate mounting and the strings extending below a pair of side 'vertical `frame members 'comprising oorsupports.

It iswell known that attempts have been made to reduce-the height of large'upright pianos down to the size of the' modern spinet piano, and that such attempts have shown the matter to be an lexceedingly stubborn problem.

My desiredA construction, as herein described a'n'd shown, 'is the result of manyn'ionths of 'actual work upon six different pianos, and shows the construction of a real conversion of a large upright piano 54 inches high to a spinettype piano only 38inches above the floor.

In Fig. 1 vis 'shown one of two side vertical frame members l comprising a floor-support, and made of wood, and having `a tenon lIA at its upper extremity whereby it is secured to a pinblo'ck 2` made of wood and having a Vmortise adapted to 'receive me said tenon. Now further,

is shown one of a plurality of full-length vertical frame members 3, made of wood, and secured 'at their upper extremities in the said pin-block?, and having their lower extremities'extending substantially below the said floor-support l. The term full-length as used herein denotesthe original length of any part as it was in any one large upright piano.

Now further in Figyl is 'shown a plurality-of ribs 4, made of wood and secured'to the said vertical frame members l in the 'usual manner, preferably by gluing. Again is shown a sounding-board 5 made of wood "and 'secured to the said ribs in the usual mannen'preferably by'fgluing; moreover is shown the 'said sounding-board extending substantially below the' said'floor-supports I.

Further is shown a piano string-plate 6 made preferably of cast iron and secured at its upper extremity to the said pin-block 2 Vby a plurality of suitable screw-bolts l, the lower `extremity of the said string-plate extending substantially below the said floor-support l, and beingsecured at its lower extremity to the lower Vextremities of the said plurality of full-length' vertical frame members 3 by means of suitable screweb'olts 1.

Again is shown a tuning-pin '8 made preferably of steel andsecured 'in the said pin-block 2. A piano string 9 made preferably of steel is secured at its upper extremity in the said tuningpin 5 and its lower extremity extends below the said door-support i, substantially, and' to the original full length and the `original position'of this string in the large upright piano; the lower extremity of the said string '9 being secured to the lower extremity of the said string-plate 6 by means of a hitch-pin l0, thev said hitch-pinv l0 being made preferably of steel.

Now further, is shown in 'dotted linesthe size. position and height of the desk il in its' relation to the. string-plate mounting. "The desk, including the feet, is moved upward until it is substantially flush with the top of the pin-block.

Further, in assembling a spinet-typepiano, based upon the new constructionof my kstringplate mounting,.thefull-lengthside casings on both sides are cut-off at the lower extremityof the said ilo-or-support I. The iloor-board,.sup porting the pedal action, is moved-up to andfse- Cured to the said iioor-supports l, on both-sides, a small area being cut-out ofthe floor-board to pass the full-length vertical frame members, the string-plate Aand the strings.

Further, in assembling a spinet-typepiano, based upon the new construction of my stringplate mounting, the action is positioned in the exact same position, relative to the string-plate, as it had in the original large upright piano; the securement of the action, however, is now made to the said side casings or down to the newly positioned floor-board by means of two upwardly positioned blocks from the said floor-board. The connection between the action and the keys is made by the well-known construction of the inverted sticker.

Now further, in Fig. 1 is shown in section, two adjacent beams I2, I2 of the floor of a livingroom or hall, and the rough oor I3 on the said beams, and the nished floor I4 on the said rough floor. Further is shown a slit in the nished floor and the rough floor, the said slit permitting the full-length vertical frame members 3, the full-length string-plate 6, the full-length sounding-board 5 and the full-length piano strings 9 to pass down thru the said floor. Again is shown the cut side vertical frame member I comprising a floor-support resting on top of the said floor and supporting the said vertical frame members 3, the sounding-board, the string-plate and the piano strings.

Now in Fig. 2 is shown a front vertical view of the new construction in my piano string-plate mounting, and is shown this view on the vertical line A--B of Fig. 1; moreover, this view is shown with the piano desk removed. Now further in Fig. 2 is shown an entire section of the middle of the string-plate mounting cut-out, in order to show the two side vertical frame members cut-off from the bottom in the length equal to the height that the string-plate is to be lowered above the iloor; moreover, the said cut side vertical frame members are shown comprising floor-supports for the string-plate mounting.

Now further, in Fig. 2 is shown two side vertical frame members I, made preferably of wood, and cut-off at their lower extremities an amount in inches that it is desired to lower the stringplate, this amount being approximately 22 inches; moreover, is shown the said vertical frame members I comprising door-supports by resting on the floor I4.

Again is shown a pin-block 2, made preferably of wood, and secured to the said vertical frame members I by means of a mortise and tenon IA. Again is shown a plurality of vertical frame members, made preferably of wood, 3 and of full or desired length, and secured at their upper extremities in the said pin-block 2 and by means of mortises and tenons 3A, and having their lower extremities extending substantially below the said hoor-supports I.

Further is shown a plurality of sounding-board ribs 4 made preferably of wood, and secured to the sounding board 5 in the usual manner, and preferably by gluing. Again is shown the sounding board 5 made preferably of wood, and secured preferably to the two said vertical frame members comprising floor-supports I. Moreover, is shown the said sounding-board 5 extending substantially below the said door-supports I, and secured at its lower extremity to the lower extremities of the said full-length vertical frame members 3, by means of suitable screw-bolts, made preferably of steel I5.

Now further, is shown the piano string-plate S made preferably of cast iron and secured at its upper extremity to the said pin-block 2 by a plurality of suitable screw-bolts 1; the said string-plate having its lower extremity extending substantially below the said floor-supports I, and

4 being secured at its lower extremity to the lower extremities of the said vertical frame members 3 by means of suitable screw-bolts 1.

Again is shown a tuning-pin 8 made preferably of steel and secured in the said pin-block 2. A piano string 9 made preferably of steel is secured at its upper extremity in the said tuningpin 8 and its lower extremity extends substantially below the said floor-supports I and to the original full-length or desired length, and at the original position of this string in the large upright piano; the lower extremity of the said string 9 being secured to the lower extremity of the said string-plate 6 by means of a hitch-pin I0, the said hitch-pin I0 being made preferably of steel. Obviously, the piano string 9 represents one of a plurality of such piano strings.

Now further is shown a beam of the floor of a living-room or hall I2, and is shown the said vertical frame members, the sounding board, the string-plate and the strings positioned down between and parallel to the said beams I2, and, all substantially below the said vertical frame members I, comprising the floor-supports. Again is shown the rough oor I3 on the said beam I2, and the nished floor I4 on the said rough oor I3.

According to my invention, my new stringplate mounting provides an extremely successful construction for converting the large or high upright piano to the new modern low spinet-type piano. Thus, I have retained the original length, size and design of the string-plate, and the original length and position of the strings mounted thereon; thereby retaining also the original scale of the string-plate, and the original beautiful tone and the original craftsmanship,

According to my invention, my new stringplate mounting provides means for a full 88-note keyboard which is highly desirable.

According to my invention, my new stringplate mounting provides means to make a successful conversion without the increment of any major parts.

According to my invention, my new stringplate mounting provides the basis for a successful assembly of the three remaining major parts, namely the desk, the action and the keys; the said assembly being relatively easy to execute by one skilled in the art.

Certain disadvantages are obvious; but these have been carefully considered and weighed, and have been found to be definitely out-weighed by a number of highly desirable qualities.

Thus, as undesirable, it is obvious that an area of flooring of approximately 8 inches by 40 inches must be taken up in order to allow the stringplate, sounding-board and vertical frame members to pass down between the beams. Again, the piano must stay in one position, and can not be moved or turned in the ordinary sense. Moreover, this construction is adaptable, generally, to the first floor only, and not to a second or third floor. And nally, my construction, in its installation, is governed by the direction of the beams under the room; thus this construction must go down parallel between the beams and can not go across the beams.

The highly desirable qualities of a spinet-type piano having my new string-plate mounting are exceedingly attractive and are immediately observed n the increased quality of the tone, the full appearance of the 88-note keyboard, the ability of the piano to maintain an A-440 pitch, and to stay in tune for long periods of time, the

normal appearance of the piano and the low 38 inch height of the piano above the floor, the original sturdy construction and the master craftsmanship of all the major parts, the ease by which the conversion may be made by a skilled piano technician, and lastly, and very important, the relatively low cost of the finished product, assembled, transported and installed.

In the technique of the actual construction of my new string-plate mounting, referring first to Fig. 1, the distance C-B is approximately 6 inches; and, referring to Fig. 2, the soundingboard is also cut-in from both sides a distance D-E and F-G of approximately 10 inches each; and, the distance E-F is governed by the width of the cast-iron string-plate at its lowest point, and is approximately 40 inches. Some stringplates, at this position, have cast-iron struts at each side, which are preferably cut-off in order to make the distance E-F as small as possible. Again, I have found that I can perform the entire conversion from a large upright piano to a low modern spinet-type piano without lettingofi' any of the string tension. Thus, I have maintained the A440 pitch and the entire number of strings in tune while the two outer vertical frame members were cut; and have found that the remaining three or four full length vertical frame members have amply provided the reinforcement required by the string-plate. This accomplishment has been of tremendous value and importance in the successful construction of my new string-plate mounting.

This piano is installed by cutting a hole in a floor I3 such that the lower portion of the vertical frame members 3 slide through, but the iloor supports l remain above the floor.

Again, the cutting of the sounding-board proved equally successful, in that no cracks appeared as a result of the cutting; moreover, no displacement from the original setting of the sounding-board could be observed.

According to the construction of my invention, I have found that I, alone, can fully and successfully convert a large upright piano to a low modern spinet-type piano in three working days of eight hours each.

I am concerned to say that my new construction comes at a time badly needing such an improvement; for, the low esteem to which these beautifully toned instruments has fallen can be seen in the fact that they are being given away free to anyone willing to pay the moving charges.

I am aware that prior to my invention, certain changes have been made in large upright pianos to make such pianos look lower in height. I am not concerned with this. I am aware that prior to my invention, spinet-type pianos have employed in the inverted sticker construction, I am therefore not concerned with this. I am aware that prior to my invention, many mprovements have been made in piano stringplates. I am therefore not concerned with these.

I claim:

The method of installing an upright piano of the type in which the string-plate extends beyond the casing and in which the casing has a larger cross-sectional dimension than the stringplate which comprises cutting a hole in a floor, said hole having a dimension which is smaller than said dimension of said casing and larger than the corresponding dimension of the stringplate and inserting the lower end of the stringplate into said hole.

HENRY FORBES RUSSELL.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 571,645 Clark Nov. 17, 1896 654,715 Conover July 31, 1900 2,081,704 Heller May 25, 1937 

